By Akinwale Kasali

Telecommunication Giant, MTN, has come under strong criticism from the Private Telecom Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PTECSSAN, over the failure of the Company to respect Labour Laws.

The Group alleged that MTN has failed to implement its employees Exit Package as an item in their collective bargaining agreements, urging the Federal Ministry of Labour to take necessary measures to defend her labour laws.

In a press statement signed by Francis Ude, an Executive, in the Union noted that an organization like MTN cannot claim to be Investors In People, IIP,  and refuses to care about what happens to an employee who spent all his/her youth within the organization.

In the statement, the Union recalled that, on March 1, 2022, both MTN and PTECSSAN were in Abuja on the auspices of the Ministry of Labour which invited both parties on the prompting of MTN that the Union wanted to disrupt its activities in Nigeria and alleged that the Union refused to obey the agreement entered into by both parties in a Procedural Agreement (PA) entered and signed by both parties.

“It is needful here to state that the said PA entered and signed by MTN and the Union (PTECSSAN) on the 9th of October 2020, states in paragraph (d) of the preamble that;

“This agreement shall constitute the sole record of the understanding and agreement between the parties relating to its subject matter and CANCELS and OVERRIDES any prior verbal or written communications relating to such subject matter, whether express or implied including letters or memorandum of understanding.”

The union noted that, MTN in total disregard of this clause, refused to further the negotiation of the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) presented by the Union, holding that MTN had concluded everything about “Exit Package” in a document entered into before the SIGNING of the Procedural Agreement and the clause mentioned above.

However, in deciding the dispute the Ministry having the full grasp and understanding of paragraph (d) as above, held that MTN cannot reprobate and approbate at the same time, stating that having signed the Procedural Agreement and the clauses contained therefrom, MTN in all intents and purposes, is bound by such agreement and therefore out of place to claim that the union does not respect the agreement.

The Union also noted that MTN has continually refused to commence meeting to conclude the CBA as directed by the ministry, even when the Nigeria Labour Congress on the 14th of April wrote to MTN on this seeming recalcitrant nature of MTN to obey the extant laws of the land and obey labour laws, and stop having the management’s employee council as a parallel union in the organization.

It however expressed worries that the Ministry of Labour, till date, has refused to transmit MTN’s appeal to the arbitration panel as it bound to do under the circumstance.

While the Union has continued to follow due process to resolving any industrial dispute with MTN,  MTN has continually used all controls within its powers to scuttle every effort of PTECSSAN and cause disunity within its fold.

The Union said, MTN cannot claim to be IIP certified and not have something as basic as EXIT PACKAGE for its employees. The body noted that, whatever MTN claim to have for its work force, is enjoyed by her senior staff and only a very little fraction goes to the lower levels:

According to the Union, MTN pay EXIT PACKAGES to its Senior Staff but refused to do same to the lower cadre.

It was revealed that All Exited/Sacked Executives have all been paid huge sums Exit Packages, but frowns at the lower cadre, despite claims by MTN that it is an IPP.

It was also alleged by the Union that Senior Staff enjoy $15,000 as Life Style Benefit, at the expense of the lower cadre who are been denied.

The Union also alleged that MTN Pays School Fees for the Kids of the Executives, Fuels generators of its Executives but frowns at the Union talking about inflation and fuel price increase for the lower staff.

“MTN PAYS 80% OF THE EXECS TAKE HOME AS BONUS, WHILE THE LOWER CADRE TAKE ONLY 20%. INSPITE OF ALL MTN HAS DONE FOR IT WORKFORCE INCLUDING THE EXECS, THE TOTAL STAFF COST TO REVENUE IS BARELY 3.5% WHICH IS SO LOW COMPARED TO OTHER ORGANISATIONS AND BANKS IN NIGERIA WHO ARE DOING WELL ABOVE 6-9%”.

The Union expressed dismay that a labour ministry of a country would refuse to take necessary measures to defend her labour laws and bring recalcitrant employers to obey international best practices, adding that all union members are asking for now, is the an EXIT PACKAGE as item in their collective bargaining agreement.